By Saira Cabrera
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JULY 17, 2025 – Drs. Subram G. & Elizabeth G. Krishnan, who have dedicated more than 40 years to compassionate care and community service in the Rio Grande Valley, are furthering their commitment to healthcare by establishing the first endowed chair in orthopaedic surgery at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.
On Tuesday, UTRGV and Drs. Subram G. & Elizabeth G. Krishnan announced the Subram G. Krishnan M.D. and Sumant “Butch” Krishnan M.D. Endowed Chair for Orthopaedic Surgery during a press conference. UTRGV President Guy Bailey expressed gratitude to the couple for their support of future healthcare professionals.
“This is a transformative philanthropic gift for our institution,” Bailey said. “One that will empower the next generation of physicians and transform healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”
The endowed chair will support the recruitment of top-tier orthopaedic faculty, paving the way for innovative clinical and surgical training for UTRGV medical students and residents. Additionally, it will foster research into new surgical techniques and treatments, while strengthening community outreach programs in musculoskeletal care.
“This endowment is a commitment to healing, to education and progress,” Dr. Subram G. Krishnan said. “It reflects our belief in the power of medical science to restore lives and livelihood – not just bones and joints.”
This is the second endowed chair established at UTRGV by Drs. Subram G. & Elizabeth G. Krishnan, furthering their commitment to healthcare in the region.
“This endowment will support the department and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley,” said Dr. Elizabeth G. Krishnan, a retired board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. “It will fund research and education for the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons.”
Named after Dr. Subram G. Krishnan, a retired board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and their son Dr. Sumant “Butch” Krishnan, medical director of shoulder service in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, this endowment will impact future orthopaedic surgeons in the Rio Grande Valley.
“With the capacity and growth of the Valley and through the UTRGV School of Medicine and this first endowed chair, Valley residents won’t need to come to Dallas or San Antonio to receive the care they need,” said Dr. Sumant “Butch” Krishnan via video. “It’s incredible to see and be part of the legacy that my parents have left in the Valley and will continue to leave.”
Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine and chair of the Department of Medicine and Oncology, said the endowed chair will help address the shortage of specialized orthopaedic care in underserved communities, enhance training for future orthopaedic surgeons, and elevate the school’s academic reputation.
“Orthopaedic conditions are a leading cause of pain and disability in our region,” Cobos said. “This endowed chair represents a pioneering investment in orthopaedic surgery education and healthcare innovation at UTRGV.”
Drs. Subram G. & Elizabeth G. Krishnan’s generosity reflects their deep commitment to improving healthcare access and excellence in the region. Since 2016, they have supported various UTRGV initiatives, including the Sujata G. Krishnan Endowed Chair in Neurosciences and the Krishnan All-Around Physician Scholarship. In 2022, they established the Sumant “Butch” Krishnan M.D. Award for Outstanding All-Around Fourth-Year Medical Student, covering the full cost of a medical student’s final year. In 2024, the university’s simulation hospital in Harlingen was renamed the UTRGV Drs. Subram G. and Elizabeth G. Krishnan Simulation Hospital.
UTRGV School of Medicine leadership has begun forming a search committee to identify and appoint the inaugural holder of the endowed chair, representing a significant investment in advancing orthopaedic surgery in South Texas.
ABOUT UTRGV
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine and a School of Podiatry, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, Weslaco, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015; the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016, and the School of Podiatric Medicine in the fall of 2022.
